Science Inquiry

This term, the students will be continuing with the science inquiry exploring the concept of energy through the inquiry question "What are the discoveries in energy have made a real difference in our lives?"  The inquiry will start with the research of a discovery that students are interested in and the scientists associated with it. We will then begin exploring and designing experiments that will illustrate this aspect of energy. We would like to celebrate the completion of the inquiry by inviting our community to the Year 3/4 Science Fair later in the term.

Apart from the science focus, we will be looking into teamwork during the inquiry. Students have been allocated their groups by their teachers and many students will be working with peers who may be less familiar to them to encourage them to work outside their familiar friendship groups and foster understandings of teamwork and collaboration. We will be discussing aspects of teamwork and collaboration through workshops throughout the term.

As different groups will be at different stages of the inquiry, we have designed different LA documents depending on what 'phase' of the inquiry the groups are at. The group must conference with a teacher and demonstrate as a group that they have met particular requirements before they are able to move on to the next phase. This will mean that we will be distributing and publishing a number of learning agreements on our website.

Seminar: Responsible kids – At home and at school

Professor Ramon Lewis, from the La Trobe University Faculty of Education, is conducting a seminar exploring the use of different forms of power to gain responsible behaviour from children and to foster a sense of responsibility tomorrow.

Professor Lewis has worked with many Victorian schools, especially in the former northern metropolitan region, and is well-known for his research and writing on child behaviour.

The seminar – in an interactive workshop format – is suited to parents, carers and educators (primary and secondary) and is a free event with limited places. Bookings are required.

Event details: Alumni Seminar: Responsible kids – at home and at school

Date: Thursday, 25 July 2013
Time: 6.00pm start followed by drinks and canapés at 7.30pm
Venue: Mezzanine Level/The Spring Street Conference Centre

Address: 1 Spring St., Melbourne (enter via Flinders Lane)
RSVP: ASAP to k.micallef@latrobe.edu.au

Further information

Contact Kali Micallef (La Trobe University Alumni) on 9479 3832 or by email:k.micallef@latrobe.edu.au or Rhonda Jewell: r.jewell@latrobe.edu.au .

Maths Projects - Term 3

Since the beginning of Term Three we have been focussing on some scientific concepts to help us with our numeracy in Maths Project!

Last week we looked at Matter and Anti-Matter to help us work with zero as the identity element of rational numbers.  We have also been using the scientific concept to help with basic number skills and to look at positive and negative numbers.

This week we will be looking at integers and how negative numbers can affect our addition and subtraction. When matter and anti-matter come in contact they annihilate each other so we have been using this idea when we add certain amounts of protons and anti-protons together to see what happens!

For example: Say you take 3 Protons (3P) and 1 Anti-proton (A). Because the Anti-proton annihilates one of the protons you are left with only 2 Protons (2P). So…  3P + A = 2P!

Here are some more examples:

A + P = 0                                            2A + 4P = 2P                         8A + 3P = 5A

Science Rotations - Robotics

As a part of the science rotations on Fridays, students who have been involved in the Robotics have been looking into design and technology through the NXT Lego Robotics kits. The students not only learn to build and program the robots using the kits provided, they are given the challenge of working in mixed groups of students unfamiliar to them. The focus in these sessions is to harness their understanding of teamwork through discussions and reflections every week. Their efforts in teamwork is evaluated each week and each group is given points according to their successes. During the final weeks, the groups are given a challenge to design and program a robot according to a given brief, with points given for their achievements. At the end of the last session, we have a celebration and an award ceremony.

Excel Fundamentals

For the first few weeks of this term, we will be exploring the fundamental skills of Microsoft Excel in ICT. The series of lessons will investigate identifying cells, creating formula using four basic operations and solving simple mathematical problems through the use of Excel. We hope that this will support students during the collection of data in their science inquiry and their maths projects.

 This week, we looked at the identification of cells in their coordinates through a game called Wizards Challenge. We then investigated formulas by playing another game called The Gold Mine. The students not only enjoyed these games, but they learned a lot about the basic operations of Excel!

Book Talk

Book Talk has been put on hold for this term, we will contact you with future ideas for this sharing time.

Thank you to all parent leaders who have given their time, we look forward to more enjoyable sharing sessions sometime in the future.

Sheryal 

We welcome Nic Carman

We welcome Nic Carman, who will be joining our Year 3/4 Neighbourhood 1 team from the beginning of term 3. He will be the home group teacher for 34M, replacing Mike who is taking a 6-months leave of absence. Here is a message from Nic.

Hello everyone, My name is Nic and I am very excited to join the 3/4 Neighbourhood at Princes Hill Primary School. I have already met many students in Neighbourhood 1 and I look forward to meeting everyone else. During the first weeks of term three I will be available around the neighbourhood so please don't hesitate to come and say hello!